Liquid-crystal medium

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, in particular based on a mixture of polar compounds, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, SA-VA, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS, UB-FFS or PS-UB-FFS effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, in particular based on a mixture of polar compounds, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, SA-VA, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS, UB-FFS or PS-UB-FFS effect.

Media of this type can be used, in particular, for electro-optical displays having active-matrix addressing based on the ECB effect and for IPS (in-plane switching) displays or FFS (fringe field switching) displays.

The principle of electrically controlled birefringence, the ECB effect or also DAP (deformation of aligned phases) effect, was described for the first time in 1971 (M. F. Schieckel and K. Fahrenschon, “Deformation of nematic liquid crystals with vertical orientation in electrical fields”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 19 (1971), 3912). This was followed by papers by J. F. Kahn (Appl. Phys. Lett. 20 (1972), 1193) and G. Labrunie and J. Robert (J. Appl. Phys. 44 (1973), 4869).

The papers by J. Robert and F. Clerc (SID 80 Digest Techn. Papers (1980), 30), J. Duchene (Displays 7 (1986), 3) and H. Schad (SID 82 Digest Techn. Papers (1982), 244) showed that liquid-crystalline phases must have high values for the ratio of the elastic constants K₃/K₁, high values for the optical anisotropy Δn and values for the dielectric anisotropy of Δε≤−0.5 in order to be suitable for use in high-information display elements based on the ECB effect. Electro-optical display elements based on the ECB effect have a homeotropic edge alignment (VA technology=vertically aligned). Dielectrically negative liquid-crystal media can also be used in displays which use the so-called IPS or FFS effect.

Displays which use the ECB effect, as so-called VAN (vertically aligned nematic) displays, for example in the MVA (multi-domain vertical alignment, for example: Yoshide, H. et al., paper 3.1: “MVA LCD for Notebook or Mobile PCs . . . ”, SID 2004 International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers, XXXV, Book I, pp. 6 to 9, and Liu, C. T. et al., paper 15.1: “A 46-inch TFT-LCD HDTV Technology . . . ”, SID 2004 International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers, XXXV, Book II, pp. 750 to 753), PVA (patterned vertical alignment, for example: Kim, Sang Soo, paper 15.4: “Super PVA Sets New State-of-the-Art for LCD-TV”, SID 2004 International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers, XXXV, Book II, pp. 760 to 763), ASV (advanced super view, for example: Shigeta, Mitzuhiro and Fukuoka, Hirofumi, paper 15.2: “Development of High Quality LCDTV”, SID 2004 International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers, XXXV, Book II, pp. 754 to 757) modes, have established themselves as one of the three more recent types of liquid-crystal display that are currently the most important, in particular for television applications, besides IPS (in-plane switching) displays (for example: Yeo, S. D., paper 15.3: “An LC Display for the TV Application”, SID 2004 International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers, XXXV, Book II, pp. 758 & 759) and the long-known TN (twisted nematic) displays. The technologies are compared in general form, for example, in Souk, Jun, SID Seminar 2004, seminar M-6: “Recent Advances in LCD Technology”, Seminar Lecture Notes, M-6/1 to M-6/26, and Miller, Ian, SID Seminar 2004, seminar M-7: “LCD-Television”, Seminar Lecture Notes, M-7/1 to M-7/32. Although the response times of modern ECB displays have already been significantly improved by addressing methods with overdrive, for example: Kim, Hyeon Kyeong et al., paper 9.1: “A 57-in. Wide UXGA TFT-LCD for HDTV Application”, SID 2004 International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers, XXXV, Book I, pp. 106 to 109, the achievement of video-compatible response times, in particular on switching of grey shades, is still a problem which has not yet been satisfactorily solved.

Industrial application of this effect in electro-optical display elements requires LC phases, which have to satisfy a multiplicity of requirements. Particularly important here are chemical resistance to moisture, air and physical influences, such as heat, infrared, visible and ultraviolet radiation and direct and alternating electric fields.

Furthermore, industrially usable LC phases are required to have a liquid-crystalline mesophase in a suitable temperature range and low viscosity.

None of the hitherto-disclosed series of compounds having a liquid-crystalline mesophase includes a single compound which meets all these requirements. Mixtures of two to 25, preferably three to 18, compounds are therefore generally prepared in order to obtain substances which can be used as LC phases. However, it has not been possible to prepare optimum phases easily in this way since no liquid-crystal materials having significantly negative dielectric anisotropy and adequate long-term stability were hitherto available.

Matrix liquid-crystal displays (MLC displays) are known. Non-linear elements which can be used for individual switching of the individual pixels are, for example, active elements (i.e. transistors). The term “active matrix” is then used, where a distinction can be made between two types:

-   1. MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) transistors on a silicon wafer as     substrate -   2. thin-film transistors (TFTs) on a glass plate as substrate.

In the case of type 1, the electro-optical effect used is usually dynamic scattering or the guest-host effect. The use of single-crystal silicon as substrate material restricts the display size, since even modular assembly of various part-displays results in problems at the joints.

In the case of the more promising type 2, which is preferred, the electro-optical effect used is usually the TN effect.

A distinction is made between two technologies: TFTs comprising compound semiconductors, such as, for example, CdSe, or TFTs based on polycrystalline or amorphous silicon. The latter technology is being worked on intensively worldwide.

The TFT matrix is applied to the inside of one glass plate of the display, while the other glass plate carries the transparent counterelectrode on its inside. Compared with the size of the pixel electrode, the TFT is very small and has virtually no adverse effect on the image. This technology can also be extended to fully color-capable displays, in which a mosaic of red, green and blue filters is arranged in such a way that a filter element is opposite each switchable pixel.

The term MLC displays here covers any matrix display with integrated non-linear elements, i.e. besides the active matrix, also displays with passive elements, such as varistors or diodes (MIM=metal-insulator-metal).

MLC displays of this type are particularly suitable for TV applications (for example pocket TVs) or for high-information displays in automobile or aircraft construction. Besides problems regarding the angle dependence of the contrast and the response times, difficulties also arise in MLC displays due to insufficiently high specific resistance of the liquid-crystal mixtures [TOGASHI, S., SEKIGUCHI, K., TANABE, H., YAMAMOTO, E., SORIMACHI, K., TAJIMA, E., WATANABE, H., SHIMIZU, H., Proc. Eurodisplay 84, September 1984: A 210-288 Matrix LCD Controlled by Double Stage Diode Rings, pp. 141 ff., Paris; STROMER, M., Proc. Eurodisplay 84, September 1984: Design of Thin Film Transistors for Matrix Addressing of Television Liquid Crystal Displays, pp. 145 ff., Paris]. With decreasing resistance, the contrast of an MLC display deteriorates. Since the specific resistance of the liquid-crystal mixture generally drops over the life of an MLC display owing to interaction with the inside surfaces of the display, a high (initial) resistance is very important for displays that have to have acceptable resistance values over a long operating period.

There thus continues to be a great demand for MLC displays having very high specific resistance at the same time as a large working-temperature range, short response times and a low threshold voltage with the aid of which various grey shades can be produced.

The disadvantage of the frequently-used MLC-TN displays is due to their comparatively low contrast, the relatively high viewing-angle dependence and the difficulty of generating grey shades in these displays.

VA displays have significantly better viewing-angle dependencies and are therefore principally used for televisions and monitors. However, there continues to be a need here to improve the response times, in particular with respect to the use of televisions having frame rates (image change frequency/repetition rates) of greater than 60 Hz. At the same time, however, the properties, such as, for example, the low-temperature stability, must not be impaired.

Another problem which could be observed in TFT displays like those of the UB-FFS mode is the appearance of flicker, which is a time dependent variation in brightness, i.e. the brightness fluctuates during the charging and holding periods in display operation. The main reasons causing flicker include generation of residual DC charge for example due to impurities, an asymmetric voltage between the electrodes or a flexoelectric effect. The flicker induced by the flexoelectric effect can be evaluated by the so-called white flicker method as described in the example section.

Another problem is the occurrence of image sticking (or image burn), wherein the image produced in the LC display by temporary addressing of individual pixels still remains visible even after the electric field in these pixels has been switched off or after other pixels have been addressed. This can be evaluated by measuring the easy axis shift, which indicates the difference between the initial off-state orientation direction of the LC molecules relative to the substrate and their off-state orientation after several addressing cycles.

The invention provides liquid-crystal mixtures, in particular for monitor and TV applications, which are based on the ECB effect or on the IPS or FFS effect, which do not have the above-mentioned disadvantages or only do so to a reduced extent. In particular, it must be for monitors and televisions the mixtures allow the displays to operate at extremely high and extremely low temperatures and at the same time to have short response times and improved reliability behavior, in particular no or significantly reduced image sticking after long operating times.

The LC medium as described and claimed hereinafter provides these features.

The use of an LC mixture as disclosed and claimed hereinafter having negative dielectric anisotropy surprisingly results in very low rotational viscosities and in a reduction in the ratio of rotational viscosity and elastic constants, while maintaining a high reliability and high VHR values also after UV exposure. Liquid-crystal mixtures, preferably VA, PS (=polymer stabilised)-VA, SA (=self alignment)-VA, IPS, PS-IPS, PS-FFS, FFS mixtures, in particular UB-FFS (ultra brightness fringe field switching) or PS-UB-FFS mixtures, which have short response times and good reliability, and at the same time good phase properties and good low-temperature behavior can therefore be prepared.

The invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) medium having negative dielectric anisotropy and comprising one or more compounds of formula LB

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

-   R¹ alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9, preferably     1 to 6, C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9, preferably 2     to 6, C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, -   L¹, L² F or Cl, preferably F, -   X¹ fluorinated alkyl or alkoxy with 1, 2 or 3 C atoms, preferably     CF₃ or OCF₃, -   Y¹ O or S.

The invention further relates to the use of an LC medium as described above and below used for electro-optical purposes, in particular for the use in shutter glasses, for 3D applications, or in VA, PS-VA, SA-VA, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS, UB-FFS or PS-UB-FFS displays.

The invention further relates to an electro-optical LC display containing an LC medium as described above and below, in particular an VA, PS-VA, SA-VA, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS, UB-FFS or PS-UB-FFS display.

The invention furthermore relates to a process for preparing an LC medium as described above and below, comprising the steps of mixing one or more compounds of formula LB with one or more further LC compounds and optionally one or more additives.

The LC media according to the invention preferably exhibit very broad nematic phase ranges having clearing points≥70° C., preferably ≥75° C., in particular ≥80° C., very favorable values for the capacitive threshold, relatively high values for the holding ratio and at the same time very good low-temperature stabilities at −20° C. and −30° C., as well as very low rotational viscosities and short response times.

The LC media according to the invention are furthermore distinguished by the fact that, in addition to the improvement in the rotational viscosity γ₁, high reliability and high VHR values, even after UV exposure, can be achieved.

The LC media according to the invention are furthermore distinguished by the fact that, in addition to the improvement in the rotational viscosity γ₁, relatively high values of the elastic constant K₃ for improving the response times can be observed. In particular, the mixtures according to the invention have a particularly low value for the ratio γ₁/K₃ of rotational viscosity γ₁ and elastic constant K₃, which is an indicator of a fast response time.

Preferred compounds of formula LB are selected from the following subformulae:

wherein R¹ has one of the meanings given in formula LB and preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1-6 C atoms, very preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl, more preferably ethyl or propyl, most preferably propyl.

Very preferred compounds of formula LB are selected from the following subformulae:

wherein R¹ has one of the meanings given in formula LB and preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1-6 C atoms, very preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl, more preferably ethyl or propyl, most preferably propyl.

Most preferred are compounds of formulae LB-1-1 and LB2-2.

The total proportion of the compounds of formula LB, LB1, LB2 and their subformulae in the LC medium is from >0 to ≤5%, preferably from 0.05 to 4%, very preferably from 0.1 to 3%, more preferably from 0.1 to 2%, most preferably from 0.5 to 1%, by weight.

Preferably the LC medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds of formula LB, LB1, LB2 or their subformulae.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium comprises one or more compounds of formula LB1 or its subformulae and one or more compounds of formula LB2 or its subformulae.

In the LC medium according to the present invention one or more of the following advantages could be achieved:

-   -   high transmittance,     -   high contrast ratio,     -   reduced image sticking,     -   reduced ODF mura,     -   high reliability and high VHR value after UV exposure and/or         heat treatment,     -   high birefringence,     -   reduced rotational viscosity     -   faster response times,     -   reduced white flicker,     -   lower easy axis shift ΔΦ.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium comprises one or more comprising an alkenyl group, preferably selected from formula AN and AY:

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

-   R^(A1) alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the     rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of     R^(A2), -   R^(A2) alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or     two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,     —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to     one another, -   Z^(x) —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—,     —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O—, or a single bond, preferably     a single bond, -   L¹⁻⁴ H, F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F or CHF₂H, preferably H, F or Cl, -   x 1 or 2, -   z 0 or 1.

Preferred compounds of formula AN and AY are those wherein R^(A2) is selected from ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl and heptenyl.

Further preferred compounds of formula AN and AY are those wherein L¹ and L² denote F, or one of L¹ and L² denotes F and the other denotes Cl, and L³ and L⁴ denote F, or one of L³ and L⁴ denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

The compounds of the formula AN are preferably selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

Very preferred compounds of the formula AN are selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which m denotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, i denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, and R^(b1) denotes H, CH₃ or C₂H.

Very particularly preferred compounds of the formula AN are selected from the following sub-formulae:

Most preferred are compounds of formula AN1a2, AN1a5, AN6a1 and AN6a2.

In a preferred embodiment the LC medium contains one or more compounds selected from formula AN1a2, AN1a5 and AN1a6.

Preferably the LC medium or LC host mixture contains 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3 compounds selected of formula AN or its subformulae.

The proportion of the compounds of formula AN in the LC medium is preferably from 5 to 70%, more preferably from 10 to 60%, most preferably from 20 to 60%.

The compounds of the formula AY are preferably selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

Very preferred compounds of the formula AY are selected from the following sub-formulae:

in which m and n each, independently of one another, denote 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and alkenyl denotes CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

The proportion of compounds of formula AY in the LC medium is preferably from 2 to 50% by weight, very preferably from 5 to 40% by weight, most preferably from 5 to 30% by weight.

Preferably the LC medium or LC host mixture contains 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3 compounds selected of formula AY or its subformulae.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium comprises one or more compounds of formula AY14, very preferably of AY14a. The proportion of compounds of formula AY14 or AY14a in the LC medium is preferably from 3 to 30% by weight.

The addition of alkenyl compounds of formula AN and/or AY enables a reduction of the viscosity and response time of the LC medium.

The LC medium preferably comprises no compounds containing a terminal vinyloxy group (—O—CH═CH₂), in particular no compounds of the formula AN or AY in which R^(A1) or R^(A2) denotes or contains a terminal vinyloxy group (—O—CH═CH₂).

Further preferred embodiments of the LC medium according to the present invention are those of sections a)-z) below, including any combination thereof:

-   a) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds of the formulae CY     and/or PY:

-   -   wherein     -   a denotes 1 or 2,     -   b denotes 0 or 1,

-   -   R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to         6 C atoms,     -   Z^(x) and Z^(y) each, independently of one another, denote         —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—,         —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O— or a single bond,         preferably a single bond,     -   L¹⁻⁴ each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF₃,         CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.     -   Preferably, both L¹ and L² denote F or one of L¹ and L² denotes         F and the other denotes Cl, or both L³ and L⁴ denote F or one of         L³ and L⁴ denotes F and the other denotes Cl.     -   The compounds of the formula CY are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which a denotes 1 or 2, alkyl and alkyl* each, independently         of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6         C atoms, and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond.     -   The compounds of the formula PY are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms,         and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond.

-   b) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds of the following     formula:

-   -   in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

-   -   R³ and R⁴ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —O—CO— or —CO—O— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another,     -   Z^(y) denotes —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—,         —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O— or a single bond,         preferably a single bond.     -   The compounds of the formula ZK are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms.     -   Especially preferred are compounds of formula ZK1.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of formula ZK are selected from         the following sub-formulae:

-   -   wherein the propyl, butyl and pentyl groups are straight-chain         groups.     -   Most preferred are compounds of formula ZK1a.

-   c) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds of the following     formula:

-   -   in which the individual radicals on each occurrence, identically         or differently, have the following meanings:     -   R⁵ and R⁶ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to         6 C atoms,

-   -   e denotes 1 or 2.     -   The compounds of the formula DK are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms.

-   d) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds of the following     formula DY:

-   -   in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

-   -   with at least one ring F being different from cyclohexylene,     -   f denotes 1 or 2,     -   R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another,     -   Z^(x) denotes —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—,         —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O— or a single bond,         preferably a single bond.     -   L¹ and L² each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl,         OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.     -   Preferably, both radicals L¹ and L² denote F or one of the         radicals L¹ and L² denotes F and the other denotes Cl.     -   The compounds of the formula DY are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R¹ has the meaning indicated above, alkyl denotes a         straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O) denotes an         oxygen atom or a single bond, and v denotes an integer from 1         to 6. R¹ preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C         atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in         particular CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, n-C₅H₁₁, CH₂═CH—,         CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—,         CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.

-   e) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds of the following     formula:

-   -   in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically         or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the         following meaning:     -   R¹, R² alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C         atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of         which are optionally fluorinated,     -   L^(T1)-L^(T6) H, F or Cl, with at least one of L^(T1) to L^(T6)         being F or Cl,     -   The compounds of the formula T are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R denotes a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical         having 1-7 C atoms, R* denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical         having 2-7 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond,         and m denotes an integer from 1 to 6. R* preferably denotes         CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—,         CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   R and R* preferably denote methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl,         hexyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy or pentoxy.     -   Very preferred are compounds of formulae T1, T2 and T3,         especially those of formula T1 and T2.     -   Very preferred are compounds of formula T1-T24 wherein (O)         denotes an oxygen atom, m is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and R is methyl,         ethyl, propyl, butyl of pentyl or hexyl, which are preferably         straight-chained.     -   Preferably, the LC medium does not contain more than 15% of         compounds of formula T or T1-T24 or any other compounds with a         terphenyl group.     -   Preferably the proportion of compounds of formula T or T1-T24 or         any other compounds with a terphenyl group in the LC medium is         at least 5%, very preferably from 5 to 15%, most preferably from         5 to 10%.     -   Preferably the LC medium contains 1 to 5, very preferably 1 or 2         compounds of formula T or T1-T24.

-   f) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the     group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl denotes C₁₋₆-alkyl, L^(x) denotes H or F, and X         denotes F, Cl, OCF₃, OCHF₂ or OCH═CF₂. Particular preference is         given to compounds of the formula G1 in which X denotes F.

-   g) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the     group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R⁵ has one of the meanings indicated above for R¹,         alkyl denotes C₁₋₆-alkyl, d denotes 0 or 1, and z and m each,         independently of one another, denote an integer from 1 to 6. R⁵         in these compounds is particularly preferably C₁₋₆-alkyl or         -alkoxy or C₂₋₆-alkenyl, d is preferably 1. The LC medium         according to the invention preferably comprises one or more         compounds of the above-mentioned formulae in amounts of ≥5% by         weight.

-   h) The LC medium comprises one or more biphenyl compounds selected     from the group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and         alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote         a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and         alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   The proportion of the biphenyls of the formulae B1 to B3 in the         LC mixture is preferably at least 3% by weight, in particular         ≥5% by weight.     -   The compounds of the formula B2 are particularly preferred.     -   The compounds of the formulae B1 to B3 are preferably selected         from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl* denotes an alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms. The         medium according to the invention particularly preferably         comprises one or more compounds of the formulae B1a and/or B2c.

-   i) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the     group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R¹ and R² have the meanings indicated above and         preferably each, independently of one another, denote         straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain         alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms.     -   Preferred media comprise one or more compounds selected from the         formulae 01, 03 and 04.

-   k) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds of the following     formula:

-   -   in which

-   -   R⁹ denotes H, CH₃, C₂H₅ or n-C₃H₇, (F) denotes an optional         fluorine substituent, and q denotes 1, 2 or 3, and R⁷ has one of         the meanings indicated for R¹, preferably in amounts of >3% by         weight, in particular ≥5% by weight and very particularly         preferably 5-30% by weight.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formula FI are selected         from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R⁷ preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl, and R⁹         denotes CH₃, C₂H₅ or n-C₃H₇. Particular preference is given to         the compounds of the formulae F₁₁, F₁₂ and F₁₃.

-   l) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the     group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R⁸ has the meaning indicated for R¹, and alkyl denotes         a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms.

-   m) The LC medium comprises one or more compounds which contain a     tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl unit, such as, for example, the     compounds selected from the group consisting of the following     formulae:

-   -   in which     -   R¹⁰ and R¹¹ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to         6 C atoms,     -   and R¹⁰ and R¹¹ preferably denote straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy         having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C         atoms, and     -   Z¹ and Z² each, independently of one another, denote —C₂H₄—,         —CH═CH—, —(CH₂)₄—, —(CH₂)₃O—, —O(CH₂)₃—, —CH═CH—CH₂CH₂—,         —CH₂CH₂CH═CH—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—,         —CF═CH—, —CH═CF—, —CH₂— or a single bond.

-   n) The LC medium comprises one or more difluorodibenzochromans     and/or chromans of the following formulae:

-   -   in which     -   R¹¹ and R¹² each, independently of one another, have one of the         meanings indicated above for R¹¹,     -   ring M is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene,     -   Z^(m) —C₂H₄—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—,     -   c is 0, 1 or 2,     -   preferably in amounts of 3 to 20% by weight, in particular in         amounts of 3 to 15% by weight.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formulae BC, CR and RC         are selected from the group consisting of the following         sub-formulae:

-   -   in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O)         denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, c is 1 or 2, and         alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote         a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and         alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   Very particular preference is given to mixtures comprising one,         two or three compounds of the formula BC-2.

-   o) The LC medium comprises one or more fluorinated phenanthrenes     and/or dibenzofurans of the following formulae:

-   -   in which R¹¹ and R¹² each, independently of one another, have         one of the meanings indicated above for R¹¹, b denotes 0 or 1, L         denotes F, and r denotes 1, 2 or 3.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formulae PH and BF are         selected from the group consisting of the following         sub-formulae:

-   -   in which R and R′ each, independently of one another, denote a         straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1-7 C atoms.

-   p) The LC medium comprises one or more monocyclic compounds of the     following formula

-   -   wherein     -   R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl         having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two         non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—,         —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked         directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to         6 C atoms,     -   L¹ and L² each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl,         OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.     -   Preferably, both L¹ and L² denote F or one of L¹ and L² denotes         F and the other denotes Cl,     -   The compounds of the formula Y are preferably selected from the         group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   in which, Alkyl and Alkyl* each, independently of one another,         denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, Alkoxy         denotes a straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1-6 C atoms, and         Alkenyl and Alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote         a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and         Alkenyl* preferably denote CH₂═CH—, CH₂═CHCH₂CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—,         CH₃—CH₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₂—CH═CH—, CH₃—(CH₂)₃—CH═CH— or         CH₃—CH═CH—(CH₂)₂—.     -   Particularly preferred compounds of the formula Y are selected         from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

-   -   wherein Alkoxy preferably denotes straight-chain alkoxy with 3,         4, or 5 C atoms.

-   q) The LC medium comprises one or more quaterphenyl compounds     selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

-   -   wherein     -   R^(Q) is alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C         atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of         which are optionally fluorinated,     -   X^(Q) is F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C         atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C         atoms,     -   L^(Q1) to L^(Q6) independently of each other are H or F, with at         least one of L^(Q1) to L^(Q6) being F.     -   Preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein R^(Q) denotes         straight-chain alkyl with 2 to 6 C-atoms, very preferably ethyl,         n-propyl or n-butyl.     -   Preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein L^(Q3) and         L^(Q4) are F. Further preferred compounds of formula Q are those         wherein L³, L^(Q4) and one or two of L^(Q1) and L^(Q2) are F.     -   Preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein X^(Q) denotes         F or OCF₃, very preferably F.     -   The compounds of formula Q are preferably selected from the         following subformulae

-   -   wherein R^(Q) has one of the meanings of formula Q or one of its         preferred meanings given above and below, and is preferably         ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl.     -   Especially preferred are compounds of formula Q1, in particular         those wherein R^(Q) is n-propyl.     -   Preferably the proportion of compounds of formula Q in the         mixture as a whole is from >0 to ≤5% by weight, very preferably         from 0.1 to 2% by weight, most preferably from 0.2 to 1.5% by         weight.     -   Preferably the LC medium contains 1 to 5, preferably 1 or 2         compounds of formula Q.     -   The addition of quaterphenyl compounds of formula Q to the LC         host mixture enables to reduce ODF mura, whilst maintaining high         UV absorption, enabling quick and complete polymerisation,         enabling strong and quick tilt angle generation, and increasing         the UV stability of the LC medium.     -   Besides, the addition of compounds of formula Q, which have         positive dielectric anisotropy, to the LC medium with negative         dielectric anisotropy allows a better control of the values of         the dielectric constants ε_(∥) and ε_(⊥), and in particular         enables to achieve a high value of the dielectric constant ε_(∥)         while keeping the dielectric anisotropy Δε constant, thereby         reducing the kick-back voltage and reducing image sticking.

-   r) the LC medium comprises one or more compounds of formula C:

-   -   wherein     -   R^(C) denotes alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to         9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of         which are optionally fluorinated,     -   X^(C) denotes F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C         atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C         atoms,     -   L^(C1), L^(C2) independently of each other denote H or F, with         at least one of L^(C1) and L^(C2) being F.     -   Preferred compounds of formula C are those wherein R^(C) denotes         straight-chain alkyl with 2 to 6 C-atoms, very preferably ethyl,         n-propyl or n-butyl.     -   Preferred compounds of formula C are those wherein L^(C1) and         L^(C2) are F.     -   Preferred compounds of formula C are those wherein X^(C) denotes         F or OCF₃, very preferably F.     -   Preferred compounds of formula C are selected from the following         formula

-   -   wherein R^(C) has one of the meanings of formula C or one of its         preferred meanings given above and below, and is preferably         ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl, very preferably n-propyl.     -   Preferably the proportion of compounds of formula C in the         mixture as a whole is from >0 to ≤10% by weight, very preferably         from 0.1 to 8% by weight, most preferably from 0.2 to 5% by         weight.     -   Preferably the LC medium contains 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3         compounds of formula C.     -   The addition of compounds of formula C, which have positive         dielectric anisotropy, to the LC medium with negative dielectric         anisotropy allows a better control of the values of the         dielectric constants ε_(∥) and ε_(⊥), and in particular enables         to achieve a high value of the dielectric constant ε_(∥) while         keeping the dielectric anisotropy Δε constant, thereby reducing         the kick-back voltage and reducing image sticking. Besides, the         addition of compounds of formula C enables to reduce the         viscosity and the response time of the LC medium.

-   s) The LC medium comprises 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, compounds of     the formulae CY1, CY2, PY1 and/or PY2. The proportion of these     compounds in the mixture as a whole is preferably 5 to 60%,     particularly preferably 10 to 35%. The content of these individual     compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%.

-   t) The LC medium comprises 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, compounds of     the formulae CY9, CY10, PY9 and/or PY10. The proportion of these     compounds in the mixture as a whole is preferably 5 to 60%,     particularly preferably 10 to 35%. The content of these individual     compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%.

-   u) The LC medium comprises 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 8, compounds of     the formula ZK, in particular compounds of the formulae ZK1, ZK2     and/or ZK6. The proportion of these compounds in the mixture as a     whole is preferably 3 to 25%, particularly preferably 5 to 45%. The     content of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 2     to 20%.

-   v) In the LC medium the proportion of compounds of formulae CY, PY     and ZK in the mixture as a whole is greater than 70%, preferably     greater than 80%.

-   w) The LC medium contains one or more compounds containing an     alkenyl group, preferably selected from the group consisting of     formula CY, PY and DY, wherein one or both of R¹ and R² denote     straight-chain alkenyl having 2-6 C atoms, formula ZK and DK,     wherein one or both of R³ and R⁴ or one or both of R⁵ and R⁶ denote     straight-chain alkenyl having 2-6 C atoms, and formula B2 and B3,     very preferably selected from formulae CY15, CY16, CY24, CY32, PY15,     PY16, ZK3, ZK4, DK3, DK6, B2 and B3. The concentration of these     compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 70%, very     preferably from 3 to 55%.

-   x) The LC medium contains one or more, preferably 1 to 5, compounds     selected of formula PY1-PY8, very preferably of formula PY2. The     proportion of these compounds in the mixture as a whole is     preferably 1 to 30%, particularly preferably 2 to 20%. The content     of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 1 to 20%.

-   y) The L medium contains one or more compounds selected from     formulae AN1 to AN15, preferably from AN1, AN3 and AN6, more     preferably from formulae AN1a and AN6a, very preferably from     formulae AN1a2, AN1a5, AN6a1 and AN6a2. The proportion of these     compounds in the mixture as a whole is preferably from 5 to 70%,     more preferably from 10 to 60%, most preferably from 20 to 60%.

-   z) The L medium contains one or more compounds selected from     formulae AY1 to AY14, more preferably from formulae AY5a, AY6a,     AY9a, AY10a, AY11a and AY14a, very preferably from formula AY14a.     The proportion of these compounds in the mixture as a whole is     preferably from 2 to 50% by weight, very preferably from 5 to 40% by     weight, most preferably from 5 to 30% by weight.

The combination of compounds of the preferred embodiments mentioned above with the polymerised compounds described above causes low threshold voltages, low rotational viscosities and very good low-temperature stabilities in the LC media according to the invention at the same time as constantly high clearing points and high VHR values.

The use of LC media containing polymerisable compounds allows the rapid establishment of a particularly low pretilt angle in PSA displays. In particular, the LC media exhibit significantly shortened response times, in particular also the grey-shade response times, in PSA displays compared with the media from the prior art.

The LC media and LC host mixtures of the present invention preferably have a nematic phase range of at least 80 K, particularly preferably at least 100 K, and a rotational viscosity≤250 mPa·s, preferably ≤200 mPa·s, at 20° C.

In the VA-type displays according to the invention, the molecules in the layer of the LC medium in the switched-off state are aligned perpendicular to the electrode surfaces (homeotropically) or have a tilted homeotropic alignment. On application of an electrical voltage to the electrodes, a realignment of the LC molecules takes place with the longitudinal molecular axes parallel to the electrode surfaces.

The LC media according to the invention are preferably based on compounds with negative dielectric anisotropy, are in particular suitable for use in displays of the VA, UB-FFS, PS-VA and PS-UB-FFS type, and preferably have a negative dielectric anisotropy Δε, very preferably from −0.5 to −10, most preferably from −2.5 to −7.5, at 20° C. and 1 kHz.

The birefringence Δn in LC media according to the invention, especially for use in displays of the VA, UB-FFS, PS-VA and PS-UB-FFS type, is preferably below 0.16, particularly preferably from 0.06 to 0.14, very particularly preferably from 0.07 to 0.12.

The LC media according to the invention may also comprise further additives which are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature, such as, for example, polymerisation initiators, inhibitors, stabilisers, surface-active substances or chiral dopants. These may be polymerisable or non-polymerisable.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium additionally comprises one or more polymerisable compounds.

The polymerisable compounds are preferably selected from formula M R^(a)—B¹—(Z^(b)—B²)_(m)—R^(b)  M in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

-   R^(a) and R^(b) P, P-Sp-, H, F, Cl, Br, I, —CN, —NO₂, —NCO, —NCS,     —OCN, —SCN, SF₅ or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25 C     atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups     may each be replaced, independently of one another, by     —C(R⁰)═C(R⁰⁰)—, —C≡C—, —N(R⁰⁰)—, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—,     —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly     to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may     be replaced by F, Cl, Br, I, CN, P or P-Sp-, where, if B¹ and/or B²     contain a saturated C atom, R^(a) and/or R^(b) may also denote a     radical which is spiro-linked to this saturated C atom, -   wherein at least one of the radicals R^(a) and R^(b) denotes or     contains a group P or P-Sp-, -   P a polymerisable group, -   Sp a spacer group or a single bond, -   B¹ and B² an aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic     group, preferably having 4 to 25 ring atoms, which may also contain     fused rings, and which is unsubstituted, or mono- or polysubstituted     by L, -   Z^(b) —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —OCO—, —O—CO—O—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O—,     —SCH₂—, —CH₂S—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CF₂S—, —SCF₂—, —(CH₂)_(n1)—,     —CF₂CH₂—, —CH₂CF₂—, —(CF₂)_(n1)—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —C≡C—,     —CH═CH—COO—, —OCO—CH═CH—, CR⁰R⁰⁰ or a single bond, -   R⁰ and R⁰⁰ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl     having 1 to 12 C atoms, -   m denotes 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, -   n1 denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4, -   L P, P-Sp-, OH, CH₂OH, F, Cl, Br, I, —CN, —NO₂, —NCO, —NCS, —OCN,     —SCN, —C(═O)N(R^(x))₂, —C(═O)Y¹, —C(═O)R^(x), —N(R^(x))₂, optionally     substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl having 6 to 20 C     atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl,     alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 25     C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced     by F, Cl, P or P-Sp-, -   P and Sp have the meanings indicated above, -   Y¹ denotes halogen, -   R^(x) denotes P, P-Sp-, H, halogen, straight-chain, branched or     cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or     more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—,     —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not     linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or     more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, P or P-Sp-, an optionally     substituted aryl or aryloxy group having 6 to 40 C atoms, or an     optionally substituted heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy group having 2 to     40 C atoms.

Particularly preferred compounds of the formula I are those in which B¹ and B² each, independently of one another, denote 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, naphthalene-1,4-diyl, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, 9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, anthracene-2,7-diyl, fluorene-2,7-diyl, coumarine, flavone, where, in addition, one or more CH groups in these groups may be replaced by N, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by O and/or S, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, bicycle[1.1.1]pentane-1,3-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-diyl, spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-diyl, piperidine-1,4-diyl, decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, indane-2,5-diyl or octahydro-4,7-methanoindane-2,5-diyl, where all these groups may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by L as defined above.

Particularly preferred compounds of the formula M are those in which B¹ and B² each, independently of one another, denote 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, naphthalene-1,4-diyl or naphthalene-2,6-diyl,

Very preferred compounds of formula M are selected from the following formulae:

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

-   P¹, P², P³ a polymerisable group, preferably selected from vinyloxy,     acrylate, methacrylate, fluoroacrylate, chloroacrylate, oxetane and     epoxy, -   Sp¹, Sp², Sp³ a single bond or a spacer group where, in addition,     one or more of the radicals P¹-Sp¹-, P¹-Sp²- and P³-Sp³- may denote     R^(aa), with the proviso that at least one of the radicals P¹-Sp-,     P²-Sp² and P³-Sp³- present is different from R^(aa), preferably     —(CH₂)_(p1)—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—CO—O— or     —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO—O— bedeuten, wherein p1 is an integer from 1 to 12, -   R^(aa) H, F, Cl, CN or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to     25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂     groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by     —C(R⁰)═C(R⁰⁰)—, —C≡C—, —N(R⁰)—, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—,     —O—CO—O— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly     to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may     be replaced by F, Cl, CN or P¹-Sp¹-, particularly preferably     straight-chain or branched, optionally mono- or polyfluorinated     alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl,     alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 12 C atoms (where     the alkenyl and alkynyl radicals have at least two C atoms and the     branched radicals have at least three C atoms), -   R⁰, R⁰⁰ H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, -   R^(y) and R^(z) H, F, CH₃ or CF₃, -   X¹, X², X³ —CO—O—, —O—CO— or a single bond, -   Z^(M1) —O—, —CO—, —C(R^(y)R^(z))— or —CF₂CF₂—, -   Z^(M2), Z^(M3) —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂— or     —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is 2, 3 or 4, -   L F, Cl, CN or straight-chain or branched, optionally mono- or     polyfluorinated alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl,     alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 12     C atoms, -   L′, L″ H, F or Cl, -   k 0 or 1, -   r 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, -   s 0, 1, 2 or 3, -   t 0, 1 or 2, -   x 0 or 1.

Especially preferred are compounds of formulae M2 and M13.

Further preferred are trireactive compounds M15 to M31, in particular M17, M18, M19, M22, M23, M24, M25, M30, M31 and M32.

In the compounds of formulae M1 to M32 the group

is preferably

wherein L on each occurrence, identically or differently, has one of the meanings given above or below, and is preferably F, Cl, CN, NO₂, CH₃, C₂H₅, C(CH₃)₃, CH(CH₃)₂, CH₂CH(CH₃)C₂H₅, OCH₃, OC₂H₅, COCH₃, COC₂H₅, COOCH₃, COOC₂H₅, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, OC₂F₅ or P-Sp-, very preferably F, Cl, CN, CH₃, C₂H₅, OCH₃, COCH₃, OCF₃ or P-Sp-, more preferably F, Cl, CH₃, OCH₃, COCH₃ oder OCF₃, especially F or CH₃.

Preferred compounds of formulae M1 to M32 are those wherein P¹, P² and P³ denote an acrylate, methacrylate, oxetane or epoxy group, very preferably an acrylate or methacrylate group.

Further preferred compounds of formulae M1 to M32 are those wherein Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ are a single bond.

Further preferred compounds of formulae M1 to M32 are those wherein one of Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ is a single bond and another one of Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ is different from a single bond.

Further preferred compounds of formulae M1 to M32 are those wherein those groups Sp¹, Sp² and Sp³ that are different from a single bond denote —(CH₂)_(s1)—X″—, wherein s1 is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 2, 3, 4 or 5, and X″ is X″ is the linkage to the benzene ring and is —O—, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—O— or a single bond.

Particular preference is given to LC media comprising one, two or three polymerisable compounds of formula M, preferably selected from formulae M1 to M32.

Further preferred polymerisable compounds are listed in Table D below.

Preferably the proportion of polymerisable compounds in the LC medium is from 0.01 to 5%, very preferably from 0.05 to 1%, most preferably from 0.1 to 0.5%.

The polymerisable group P is a group which is suitable for a polymerisation reaction, such as, for example, free-radical or ionic chain polymerisation, polyaddition or polycondensation, or for a polymer-analogous reaction, for example addition or condensation onto a main polymer chain. Particular preference is given to groups for chain polymerisation, in particular those containing a C═C double bond or —C≡C— triple bond, and groups which are suitable for polymerisation with ring opening, such as, for example, oxetane or epoxide groups.

Preferred groups P are selected from the group consisting of CH₂═CW¹—CO—O—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—,

CH₂═CW²—(O)_(k3)—, CW¹═CH—CO—(O)_(k3)—, CW¹═CH—CO—NHCH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, CH₃—CH═CH—O—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CHCH₂)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—CO—, HO—CW²W³—, HS—CW²W³—, HW²N—, HO—CW²W³—NH—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH, CH₂═CH—(COO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, CH₂═CH—(CO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, Phe-CH═CH—, HOOC—, OCN— and W⁴W⁵W⁶Si—, in which W¹ denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl or CH₃, W² and W³ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, W⁴, W⁵ and W⁶ each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, W⁷ and W⁸ each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1,4-phenylene, which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals L as defined above which are other than P-Sp-, k₁, k₂ and k₃ each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1, k₃ preferably denotes 1, and k₄ denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

Very preferred groups P are selected from the group consisting of CH₂═CW¹—CO—O—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—,

CH₂═CW²—O—, CH₂═CW²—, CW¹═CH—CO—(O)_(k3)—, CW¹═CH—CO—NH—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂CH—OCO—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—, (CH₂═CH—CH₂)₂N—CO—, CH₂═CW¹—CO—NH—, CH₂═CH—(COO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, CH₂═CH—(CO)_(k1)-Phe-(O)_(k2)—, Phe-CH═CH— and W⁴W⁵W⁶Si—, in which W¹ denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl or CH₃, W² and W³ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, W⁴, W⁵ and W⁶ each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, W⁷ and W⁸ each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1,4-phenylene, k₁, k₂ and k₃ each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1, k₃ preferably denotes 1, and k₄ denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

Very particularly preferred groups P are selected from the group consisting of CH₂═CW¹—CO—O—, in particular CH₂═CH—CO—O—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—CO—O— and CH₂═CF—CO—O—, furthermore CH₂═CH—O—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—CO—, (CH₂═CH)₂CH—O—,

Further preferred polymerisable groups P are selected from the group consisting of vinyloxy, acrylate, methacrylate, fluoroacrylate, chloroacrylate, oxetane and epoxide, most preferably from acrylate and methacrylate.

If Sp is different from a single bond, it is preferably of the formula Sp″-X″, so that the respective radical P-Sp- conforms to the formula P-Sp″-X″—, wherein

-   Sp″ denotes alkylene having 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 12, C atoms,     which is optionally mono- or polysubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I or CN     and in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH₂ groups may     each be replaced, independently of one another, by —O—, —S—, —NH—,     —N(R⁰)—, —Si(R⁰R⁰⁰)—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O—, —S—CO—,     —CO—S—, —N(R⁰⁰)—CO—O—, —O—CO—N(R⁰)—, —N(R⁰)—CO—N(R⁰⁰)—, —CH═CH— or     —C≡C— in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to     one another, -   X″ denotes —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O—, —CO—N(R)—,     —N(R⁰)—CO—, —N(R⁰)—CO—N(R⁰⁰)—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O—, —SCH₂—, —CH₂S,     —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CF₂S—, —SCF₂—, —CF₂CH₂—, —CH₂CF₂—, —CF₂CF₂—,     —CH═N—, —N═CH—, —N═N—, —CH═CR⁰—, —CY²═CY³—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—CO—O—,     —O—CO—CH═CH— or a single bond, -   R⁰ and R⁰⁰ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl     having 1 to 20 C atoms, and -   Y² and Y³ each, independently of one another, denote H, F, Cl or CN.

X″ is preferably —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —O—COO—, —CO—NR⁰—, —NR⁰—CO—, —NR⁰—CO—NR⁰⁰— or a single bond.

Typical spacer groups Sp and -Sp″-X″— are, for example, —(CH₂)_(p1)—, —(CH₂CH₂O)_(q1)—CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂—S—CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂—NH—CH₂CH₂— or —(SiR⁰R⁰⁰—O)_(p1)—, in which p1 is an integer from 1 to 12, q1 is an integer from 1 to 3, and R⁰ and R⁰⁰ have the meanings indicated above.

Particularly preferred groups Sp and -Sp″-X″— are —(CH₂)_(p1)—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—CO—O—, —(CH₂)_(p1)—O—CO—O—, in which p1 and q1 have the meanings indicated above.

Particularly preferred groups Sp″ are, in each case straight-chain, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene, dodecylene, octadecylene, ethyleneoxyethylene, methyleneoxybutylene, ethylenethioethylene, ethylene-N-methyliminoethylene, 1-methylalkylene, ethenylene, propenylene and butenylene.

For the production of PSA displays, the polymerisable compounds contained in the LC medium are polymerised or crosslinked (if one compound contains two or more polymerisable groups) by in-situ polymerisation in the LC medium between the substrates of the LC display, optionally while a voltage is applied to the electrodes.

The structure of the PSA displays according to the invention corresponds to the usual geometry for PSA displays, as described in the prior art cited at the outset. Geometries without protrusions are preferred, in particular those in which, in addition, the electrode on the color filter side is unstructured and only the electrode on the TFT side has slots. Particularly suitable and preferred electrode structures for PS-VA displays are described, for example, in US 2006/0066793 A1.

Preferably the proportion of the polymerisable compounds in the LC medium is from >0 to <5%, very preferably from >0 to <1%, most preferably from 0.01 to 0.5%.

Optionally one or more polymerisation initiators are added to the LC medium. Suitable conditions for the polymerisation and suitable types and amounts of initiators are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Suitable for free-radical polymerisation are, for example, the commercially available photoinitiators Irgacure651@, Irgacure184@, Irgacure907, Irgacure369@ or Darocure1173@ (Ciba AG). If a polymerisation initiator is employed, its proportion is preferably 0.001 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 0.001 to 1% by weight.

In another preferred embodiment the LC medium does not contain a polymerisation initiator.

The LC medium may also comprise one or more stabilisers. Suitable types and amounts of stabilisers are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Particularly suitable are, for example, the commercially available stabilisers from the Irganox® series (Ciba AG), such as, for example, Irganox®1076. If stabilisers are employed, their proportion is preferably 10-500,000 ppm, more preferably 50-5,000 ppm, very preferably 50-1,000 ppm.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium contains one or more stabilisers selected from Table C below.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium contains one or more stabilisers selected from the group consisting of the following formulae

wherein the individual radicals, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, have the following meanings

-   R^(a-d) straight-chain or branched alkyl with 1 to 10, preferably 1     to 6, very preferably 1 to 4 C atoms, most preferably methyl, -   X^(S) H, CH₃, OH or O·, -   A^(S) straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkylene with 1 to 20 C     atoms which is optionally substituted, -   n an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 3.

Preferred stabilisers of formula S3 are selected from formula S3A

wherein n2 is an integer from 1 to 12, and wherein one or more H atoms in the group (CH₂)_(n2) are optionally replaced by methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl.

Very preferred stabilisers are selected from the group consisting of the following formulae

In a preferred embodiment the liquid-crystalline medium comprises one or more stabilisers selected from the group consisting of formulae S1-1, S2-1, S3-1, S3-1 and S3-3.

In a preferred embodiment the liquid-crystalline medium comprises one or more stabilisers selected from Table C below.

Preferably the proportion of stabilisers, like those of formula S1-S3, in the liquid-crystalline medium is from 10 to 500 ppm, very preferably from 20 to 100 ppm.

In another preferred embodiment the LC medium according to the present invention contains one or more SA additives selected from formula II or its subformulae. The concentration of the SA additives in the LC medium is preferably from 0.1 to 5%, very preferably from 0.2 to 3%, most preferably from 0.2 to 1.5%.

In a preferred embodiment the LC medium or display according to the present invention contains one or more SA additives selected from Table F below.

In another preferred embodiment the SA-VA or SA-FFS display according to the present invention does not contain a polyimide alignment layer.

Preference is given to LC media which have a nematic LC phase, and preferably have no chiral liquid crystal phase.

In another preferred embodiment the LC media contain one or more chiral dopants, preferably in a concentration from 0.01 to 1%, very preferably from 0.05 to 0.5%. The chiral dopants are preferably selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table B below, very preferably from the group consisting of R- or S-1011, R- or S-2011, R- or S-3011, R- or S-4011, and R- or S-5011.

In another preferred embodiment the LC media contain a racemate of one or more chiral dopants, which are preferably selected from the chiral dopants mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Furthermore, it is possible to add to the LC media, for example, 0 to 15% by weight of pleochroic dyes, furthermore nanoparticles, conductive salts, preferably ethyldimethyldodecylammonium 4-hexoxybenzoate, tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate or complex salts of crown ethers (cf., for example, Haller et al., Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 24, 249-258 (1973)), for improving the conductivity, or substances for modifying the dielectric anisotropy, the viscosity and/or the alignment of the nematic phases. Substances of this type are described, for example, in DE-A 22 09 127, 22 40 864, 23 21 632, 23 38 281, 24 50 088, 26 37 430 and 28 53 728.

The individual components of the preferred embodiments a)-z) of the LC media according to the invention are either known or methods for the preparation thereof can readily be derived from the prior art by the person skilled in the relevant art, since they are based on standard methods described in the literature. Corresponding compounds of the formula CY are described, for example, in EP-A-0 364 538. Corresponding compounds of the formula ZK are described, for example, in DE-A-26 36 684 and DE-A-33 21 373.

The LC media which can be used in accordance with the invention are prepared in a manner conventional per se, for example by mixing one or more of the above-mentioned compounds with one or more polymerisable compounds as defined above, and optionally with further liquid-crystalline compounds and/or additives. In general, the desired amount of the components used in lesser amount is dissolved in the components making up the principal constituent, advantageously at elevated temperature. It is also possible to mix solutions of the components in an organic solvent, for example in acetone, chloroform or methanol, and to remove the solvent again, for example by distillation, after thorough mixing. The invention furthermore relates to the process for the preparation of the LC media according to the invention.

It goes without saying to the person skilled in the art that the LC media according to the invention may also comprise compounds in which, for example, H, N, O, Cl, F have been replaced by the corresponding isotopes like deuterium etc.

The construction of an LC display according to the invention from polarisers, electrode base plates and surface-treated electrodes corresponds to the usual design for displays of this type. The term usual design is broadly drawn here and also encompasses all derivatives and modifications of the LC display, in particular including matrix display elements based on poly-Si TFTs or MIM.

The following examples explain the present invention without restricting it. However, they show the person skilled in the art preferred mixture concepts with compounds preferably to be employed and the respective concentrations thereof and combinations thereof with one another. In addition, the examples illustrate which properties and property combinations are accessible.

Above and below, percentage data denote percent by weight; all temperatures are indicated in degrees Celsius.

Throughout the patent application and in the working examples, the structures of the liquid-crystal compounds are indicated by means of acronyms. Unless indicated otherwise, the transformation into chemical formulae takes place in accordance with Tables I-III. All radicals C_(n)H_(2c+1), C_(m)H_(2m+1), C_(n)H_(2n), C_(m)H_(2m) and C_(k)H_(2k) are straight-chain alkyl radicals or alkenyl radicals respectively, in each case having n, m or k C atoms; n and m each, independently of one another, denote 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and k is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. In Table I the ring elements of the respective compound are coded, in Table the bridging members are listed and in Table III the meanings of the symbols for the left-hand and right-hand side chains of the compounds are indicated.

TABLE I Ring elements

A

AI

B

B(S)

C

D

DI

F

FI

G

GI

K

L

LI

M

MI

N

NI

P

S

U

UI

Y

Y(F, Cl)

Y(Cl, F)

TABLE II Bridging members E —CH₂CH₂— V —CH═CH— T —C≡C— W —CF₂CF₂— Z —COO— ZI —OCO— O —CH₂O— OI —OCH₂— Q —CF₂O— QI —OCF₂—

TABLE III Side chains Left-hand side chain Right-hand side chain n- C_(n)H_(2n+1)— -n —C_(n)H_(2n+1) nO- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—O— -On —O—C_(n)H_(2n+1) V— CH₂═ CH— —V —CH═CH₂ nV- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—CH═CH— -nV —C_(n)H_(2n)—CH═CH₂ Vn- CH₂═CH—C_(n)H_(2n)— -Vn —CH═CH—C_(n)H_(2n+1) nVm- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—CH═CH—C_(m)H_(2m)— -nVm —C_(n)H_(2n)—CH═CH—C_(m)H_(2m+1) N— N≡C— —N —C≡N F— F— —F —F Cl— Cl— —Cl —Cl M- CFH₂— -M —CFH₂ D- CF₂H— -D —CF₂H T- CF₃— -T —CF₃ MO- CFH₂O— -OM —OCFH₂ DO- CF₂HO— -OD —OCF₂H TO- CF₃O— -OT —OCF₃ T- CF₃— -T —CF₃ A- H—C≡C— -A —C≡C—H FXO- CF₂═CHO— -OXF —OCH═CF₂

Preferred mixture components are shown in Table A.

TABLE A In the formulae below m and n are independently of each other an integer from 1 to 12, preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, k is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and (O)C_(m)H_(2m+1) means C_(m)H_(2m+1) or OC_(m)H_(2m+1).

Particular preference is given to liquid-crystalline mixtures which comprise at least one, two, three, four or more compounds from Table A.

Table B indicates possible dopants which are generally added to the mixtures according to the invention. The mixtures preferably comprise 0-10% by weight, in particular 0.001-5% by weight and particularly preferably 0.001-3% by weight, of dopants.

TABLE B

TABLE C Stabilisers which can be added, for example, to the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 0-10% by weight are mentioned below.

TABLE D Table D shows illustrative reactive mesogenic compounds which can be used in the LC media in accordance with the present invention.

RM-1

RM-2

RM-3

RM-4

RM-5

RM-6

RM-7

RM-8

RM-9

RM-10

RM-11

RM-12

RM-13

RM-14

RM-15

RM-16

RM-17

RM-18

RM-19

RM-20

RM-21

RM-22

RM-23

RM-24

RM-25

RM-26

RM-27

RM-28

RM-29

RM-30

RM-31

RM-32

RM-33

RM-34

RM-35

RM-36

RM-37

RM-38

RM-39

RM-40

RM-41

RM-42

RM-43

RM-44

RM-45

RM-46

RM-47

RM-48

RM-49

RM-50

RM-51

RM-52

RM-53

RM-54

RM-55

RM-56

RM-57

RM-58

RM-59

RM-60

RM-61

RM-62

RM-63

RM-64

RM-65

RM-66

RM-67

RM-68

RM-69

RM-70

RM-71

RM-72

RM-73

RM-74

RM-75

RM-76

RM-77

RM-78

RM-79

RM-80

RM-81

RM-82

RM-83

RM-84

RM-85

RM-86

RM-87

RM-88

RM-89

RM-90

RM-91

RM-92

RM-93

RM-94

RM-95

RM-96

RM-97

RM-98

RM-99

RM-100

RM-101

RM-102

RM-103

RM-104

RM-105

RM-106

RM-107

RM-108

RM-109

RM-110

RM-111

RM-112

RM-113

RM-114

RM-115

RM-116

RM-117

RM-118

RM-119

RM-120

RM-121

RM-122

RM-123

RM-124

RM-125

RM-126

RM-127

RM-128

RM-129

RM-130

RM-131

RM-132

RM-133

RM-134

RM-135

RM-136

RM-137

RM-138

RM-139

RM-140

RM-141

RM-142

RM-143

RM-144

RM-145

In a preferred embodiment, the mixtures according to the invention comprise one or more polymerizable compounds, preferably selected from the polymerizable compounds of the formulae RM-1 to RM-140. Of these, compounds RM-1, RM-4, RM-8, RM-17, RM-19, RM-35, RM-37, RM-39, RM-40, RM-41, RM-42, RM-50, RM-53, RM-54, RM-56, RM-59, RM-66, RM-76, RM-78, RM-90, RM-93, RM-104, RM-105, RM-111, RM-119, RM-122, RM-123 and RM-124 are particularly preferred.

TABLE E Table E shows self-alignment additives for vertical alignment which can be used in LC media for SA-VA and SA-FFS displays according to the present invention together with the polymerizable compounds of formula I:

SA-1

SA-2

SA-3

SA-4

SA-5

SA-6

SA-7

SA-8

SA-9

SA-10

SA-11

SA-12

SA-13

SA-14

SA-15

SA-16

SA-17

SA-18

SA-19

SA-20

SA-21

SA-22

SA-23

SA-24

SA-25

SA-26

SA-27

SA-28

SA-29

SA-30

SA-31

SA-32

SA-33

SA-34

SA-35

SA-36

SA-37

SA-38

SA-39

SA-40

SA-41

SA-42

SA-43

SA-44

SA-45

SA-46

SA-47

SA-48

In a preferred embodiment, the LC media and displays according to the present invention comprise one or more SA additives selected from formulae SA-1 to SA-48, preferably from formulae SA-14 to SA-48, very preferably from formulae SA-20 to SA-34 and SA-48, preferably in combination with one or more RMs of formula M.

The following examples are intended to explain the invention without limiting it.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The preceding preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited herein and of corresponding European application No. 19171252.0, filed Apr. 26, 2019, are incorporated by reference herein.

Above and below, unless explicitly noted otherwise, all percentage data denote percent by weight, and relate to the corresponding mixture as a whole, comprising all solid or liquid-crystalline components, without solvents. Furthermore, unless explicitly noted otherwise, all temperatures are indicated in in degrees Celsius (° C.). m.p. denotes melting point, cl.p.=clearing point. Furthermore, C=crystalline state, N=nematic phase, S=smectic phase and I=isotropic phase. The data between these symbols represent the transition temperatures.

In addition, the following abbreviations and symbols are used:

-   V₀ threshold voltage, capacitive [V] at 20° C., -   n_(e) extraordinary refractive index at 20° C. and 589 nm, -   n_(o) ordinary refractive index at 20° C. and 589 nm, -   Δn optical anisotropy at 20° C. and 589 nm, -   ε_(⊥) dielectric permittivity perpendicular to the director at     20° C. and 1 kHz, -   ε_(∥) dielectric permittivity parallel to the director at 20° C. and     1 kHz, -   Δε dielectric anisotropy at 20° C. and 1 kHz, -   cl.p., T_(ni) clearing point [° C.], -   γ₁ rotational viscosity at 20° C. [mPa·s], -   K₁ elastic constant, “splay” deformation at 20° C. [pN], -   K₂ elastic constant, “twist” deformation at 20° C. [pN], -   K₃ elastic constant, “bend” deformation at 20° C. [pN].

All physical properties are and have been determined in accordance with “Merck Liquid Crystals, Physical Properties of Liquid Crystals”, Status November 1997, Merck KGaA, Germany, and apply for a temperature of 20° C. unless explicitly indicated otherwise in each case.

The term “threshold voltage” for the present invention relates to the capacitive threshold (V₀), also known as the Freedericks threshold, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. In the examples, the optical threshold may also, as generally usual, be quoted for 10% relative contrast (V₁₀).

EXAMPLES

Unless stated otherwise, methods of preparing test cells and measuring their electrooptical and other properties are carried out by the methods as described hereinafter or in analogy thereto.

The display used for measurement of the capacitive threshold voltage consists of two plane-parallel glass outer plates at a separation of 25 μm, each of which has on the inside an electrode layer and an unrubbed polyimide alignment layer on top, which effect a homeotropic edge alignment of the liquid-crystal molecules.

The VHR value is measured as follows: The LC mixture is introduced into VA-VHR test cells which comprise an unrubbed VA-polyimide alignment layer. The LC-layer thickness d is approx. 3 μm, unless stated otherwise. The VHR value is determined before and after light exposure at 1 V, 60 Hz, 64 μs pulse (measuring instrument: Autronic-Melchers VHRM-105).

Comparison Example 1

The nematic LC host mixture C1 is formulated as follows.

CC-3-V 24.50% cl.p. 85.9° C. CC-3-V1 12.00% Δn 0.0933 CCP-V-1 13.50% Δε −3.3 CPY-3-O2 1.00% ε_(∥) 3.4 CCY-5-O2 3.00% γ₁ 101 mPa s CLY-3-O2 9.00% K₁ 15.6 CLY-4-O2 5.50% K₃ 18.0 CLY-5-O2 5.50% K₃/K₁ 1.15 CY-3-O2 12.00% V₀ 2.46 V CY-3-O4 4.00% CY-5-O2 4.00% B(S)-2O-O4 4.00% B(S)-2O-O5 2.00%

Example 1

The LC mixture N1 is formulated by mixing 99.5% of the LC host mixture C1 and 0.5% of the compound LB(S)-3-OT of formula LB2-2.

Example 2

The LC mixture N2 is formulated by mixing 99.0% of the LC host mixture C1 and 1.0% of the compound LB(S)-3-OT of formula LB2-2.

Example 3

The LC mixture N3 is formulated by mixing 97.0% of the LC host mixture C1 and 3.0% of the compound LB(S)-3-OT of formula LB2-2.

Example 4

The LC mixture N4 is formulated by mixing 99.5% of the LC host mixture C1 and 0.5% of the compound LB-3-T of formula LB1-1.

Example 5

The LC mixture N5 is formulated by mixing 99.0% of the LC host mixture C1 and 1.0% of the compound LB-3-T of formula LB1-1.

Example 6

The LC mixture N6 is formulated by mixing 97.0% of the LC host mixture C1 and 3.0% of the compound LB-3-T of formula LB1-1.

VHR Values

The VHR values of mixtures C1 and N1 to N3 are measured at 60° C., 3 Hz in UB-FFS VHR test cells before and after light exposure for varying time using a LED lamp.

The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 VHR values C1 N1 N2 N3 VHR at 60° C. (%) VHR/% Initial 95.3 95.0 94.9 94.6 After 24 h Light stress 90.8 90.7 90.4 89.4 After 72 h Light stress 84.9 85.2 83.8 82.1 After 168 h Light stress 74.2 74.5 73.0 68.9 After 240 h Light stress 66.9 68.1 66.4 60.9

From Table 1 it can be seen that the mixtures N1 to N3 according to the present invention show VHR values which are comparable to those of reference mixture C1.

White Flicker

The white flicker values of mixtures C1 and N1 to N3 are measured at 25° C., 10 Hz with V100 voltage loading in UB-FFS test cells.

The results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 White flicker at V 100, 10 Hz, 25° C. C1 N1 N2 N3 White flicker 1.9 1.3 1.4 1.3

From Table 2 it can be seen that the mixtures N1 to N3 according to the present invention show significantly reduced white flicker compared to reference mixture C1.

Easy Axis Shift by AC Loading

The easy axis shift ΔΦ of mixtures C1 and N1 to N3 are measured at 0 voltage, room temperature for 90 min after stress which 10 Vrms for 2 hrs at 30 Hz in UB-FFS test cell.

The results are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 ΔΦ by AC loading ΔΦ C1 N1 N2 N3 0 min 0.11 0.09 0.10 0.09 30 min 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.03 60 min 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.03 90 min 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02

From Table 3 it can be seen that the mixtures N1 to N3 according to the present invention show lower easy axis shift ΔΦ compared to reference mixture C1.

The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising 0.1 to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the LC medium, of only one compound of formula LB

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning: R¹ alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, L¹, L² F or Cl, X¹ fluorinated alkyl or alkoxy with 1, 2 or 3 C atoms, Y¹ O or S, said medium having negative dielectric anisotropy of −2.5 to −7.5 at 20° C. and 1 kHz.
 2. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein the compound of formula LB is:

wherein R¹ and X¹ are as defined in claim
 1. 3. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein the compound of formula LB is

wherein R¹ is as defined in claim
 1. 4. The LC medium according to claim 1, additionally comprising one or more compounds of formulae AN or AY

in which individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

R^(A1) alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R^(A2), R^(A2) alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(x) —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O—, or a single bond, L¹⁻⁴ H, F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F or CHF₂H, x 1 or 2, z 0 or
 1. 5. The LC medium according to claim 1, additionally comprising one or more compounds of formulae CY or PY:

in which individual radicals have the following meanings: a denotes 1 or 2, b denotes 0 or 1,

R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —O—CO— or —CO—O— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(x) denotes —CH═CH—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —O—, —CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂— or a single bond, L¹⁻⁴ each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.
 6. The LC medium according to claim 1, additionally comprising one or more compounds of formulae ZK or DK:

in which individual radicals on each occurrence, identically or differently, have the following meanings:

 and R³ and R⁴ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —O—CO— or —CO—O— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(y) denotes —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —COO—, —OCO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF— or a single bond, R⁵ and R⁶ each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms, e denotes 1 or
 2. 7. The LC medium according to claim 1, additionally comprising one or more compounds of formulae:

in which R and R′ each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1-7 C atoms.
 8. An LC display comprising an LC medium as defined in claim
 1. 9. The LC display of claim 8, which is a VA, SA-VA, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS, UB-FFS or PS-UB-FFS display.
 10. A process of preparing an LC medium according to claim 1, comprising mixing only one compound of formula LB with one or more compounds selected from formulae AN, AY, CY and PY and optionally with further LC compounds and/or additives,

in which individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

R^(A1) alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R^(A2), R^(A2) alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —OCO— or —COO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(x) —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C₂F₄—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH—CH₂O—, or a single bond, L¹⁻⁴ H, F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F or CHF₂H, x 1 or 2, z 0 or 1,

in which individual radicals have the following meanings: a denotes 1 or 2, b denotes 0 or 1,

R¹ and R² each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH₂ groups may be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —O—CO— or —CO—O— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z^(x) denotes —CH═CH—, —CH₂O—, —OCH₂—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —O—, —CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂— or a single bond, L¹⁻⁴ each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF₃, CF₃, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂.
 11. The LC medium according to claim 1, comprising 0.1 to 1.0% of the compound of formula LB. 